Over 4,000 observers monitor election: PAFFREL
Moreover, about 150 officers are to be dispatched to counting centres to monitor counting of votes. Over 200 foreign observers will be observing the election proceedings during this election
Over 200 foreign observers will be observing the election proceedings during this election
Over 4,000 election observers have been dispatched all over the country to observe the proceedings of the upcoming Presidential election, People’s Actions for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) said.
Its Execute Director Rohana Hettiarachchi said 3,000 observers would monitor process inside polling stations and the rest of the observers would monitor overall activities.
He said over 700 mobile election observers and 225 mobile vehicles are dispatched all over the country in all districts for election monitoring. He said they wish to cover all 12,845 polling centres in the country.
“Moreover, about 150 officers are to be dispatched to counting centres to monitor counting of votes. Over 200 foreign observers will be observing the election proceedings during this election,” he said.
M e a n w h i l e , t h e PAFFREL has received 714 election complaints prior to the presidential election and 44 complaints were received during the Silent period, Mr Hettiarachchi said.
“Among these 44 complaints, an attack on a journalist in Galle, a petrol bomb attack on a closed office in Kandy and an arrest over mudslinging was reported. Majority of other complaints are related to canvassing,” he said.
Most of the complaints were related to election canvassing and hate speech in social media and religious platforms, he said.
Accordingly, with the involvement of the Election Commission, they were able to remove some of these posts in social media on November 14.
“This silent period is given to voters to freely choose their party and their Presidential candidate without any influence from other parties. Therefore canvassing for a certain party or a candidate during this period is unfortunate and pathetic,” Mr. Hettiarachchi added.